Salad weather

A recipe from the Vegetarian Bible recipe book (truly living up to it's name): Beetroot, fetta & spinach salad. Get these ingredients to DIY:
~ A small can of baby beetroot
~ 4 cups baby spinach leaves, stalks removed
~ 150g fetta, crumbled into chunks
~ 2 tablespoons finely chopped spring onions
~ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
~ 1 cup walnuts, toasted
~ vinaigrette (I did equal parts olive oil, dijon mustard & balsamic vinegar)

Method:
1. Delicately arrange all ingredients in four bowls (think Ikebana for salads).
2. Eat!

Turning Japanese

Here's a close up of the pattern on my dress... it's a bit Japanesey, right? I've eaten at Japanese restaurants two days in a row, and Tokyo is coming up in conversation every 5 minutes. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something..? Anyway, the eateries were Peko Peko (199 Smith Street, Fitzroy; reviewed here) and Yume (367 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy). Both meals were incredible. Otsumami is next on my list.

>> Random aside: it's weird looking at the combination of photos taken in sweltering heat and then snow or ice through all the blogs in my reader.

Just a minute... in January

Almost forgot again! These months fly by too quickly... Anyway, here is my just a minute round up for January:

Reading... issue #27 of frankie magazine. I read it cover to cover every time.

Watching... the Australian Open! It always makes me want to take up tennis again.

Listening... to Bon Iver's album "For Emma, Forever Ago" and loving it so much the vinyl version is now on order from Insound.

Eating... coriander from the garden in almost every meal, but not sure how it's going to survive through the heatwave predicted in Melbourne this week!

Sewing... has stalled, as has the knitting and crochet. No doubt will be back with a vengeance when the weather cools down.

Learning... that it's hard to start new habits - like exercise, getting up early and avoiding sweet things - but very satisfying when you actually do it. Having said that, I think I need icecream!

Pay it forward

I was quick to jump in on Silly Gilly's Pay It Forward and am just as excited about receiving something as I am to make gifts for the first three people who comment here. As per the rules below, you must be keen to do the same within a year... hopefully sooner!

THE RULES:
I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people
who comment on this post and I have 365 days (ample time)
to do it in...
You must have a blog to join in and be willing to do
the same for three other people...
Lets have fun!!!

Uh-oh

What the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has forecast for Melbourne this week:

TUESDAY
Min 15 celsius (59 fahrenheit)
Max 38 celsius (100 fahrenheit)

WEDNESDAY
Min 25 celsius (77 fahrenheit)
Max 41 celsius (106 fahrenheit)

THURSDAY
Min 26 celsius (79 fahrenheit)
Max 40 celsius (104 fahrenheit)

FRIDAY
Min 24 celsius (75 fahrenheit)
Max 40 celsius (104 fahrenheit)

SATURDAY
Min 24 celsius (75 fahrenheit)
Max 40 celsius (104 fahrenheit)

SUNDAY
Min 23 celsius (73 fahrenheit)
Max 31 celsius (88 fahrenheit)

MONDAY
Min 23 celsius (73 fahrenheit)
Max 30 celsius (86 fahrenheit)

Mojitos in the sun

Pardon my blogging absence - the summer sunshine has kept me away! I've been to the Australian Open, The Mad Feeling's final show at the East Brunswick Club, the Queen Victoria Market, and Fitzroy Pool... just to name a few. Today is perfect mojito weather, which I make with:
~ plenty of ice
~ ginger beer
~ fresh mint
~ a quarter lime (squeezed & dropped in)
~ vodka

Blend to taste, then enjoy!

What a smoothie

This hardly qualifies as a recipe but it was a super delicious summer beverage so I'll tell you anyway. All you need is:
~ one punnet of strawberries
~ two heaped desertspoons of natural yoghurt (or soy yoghurt to make it vegan)
~ a glass and a half of soy milk

Blend for a few minutes then pour into glasses... that's it! I probably could have blended a little longer as there were a few strawberry chunks at the bottom (tasted great, though). Makes 2 big, or 3 small smoothies.

T2 for me and you

I'm a big fan of tea... it might even be my favourite beverage. Usually I'm an Earl Grey girl, but I also love a good Chai so I picked up a box from T2 today. I couldn't resist getting a canister too, since it's covered in my favourite style of paper. Now with all this, and my "perfect pour" teapot, I'm in tea heaven!

Lazy saturday

After a busy week with too many late nights, I really needed to veg out today... so I did! Here's how it went:
~ watched 80s video clips on rage this morning (think A-ha, Madonna, and Culture Club)
~ had the vegan brekky and a soy chai latte at Retro Cafe
~ wandered down to the Rose Street Artists Market
~ bought a gorgeous black and white marbled ring from this lovely lady
~ went fruit and vegetable shopping at the South Melbourne Market
~ came home and had a two hour nap!

Now I'm about to make dinner ("Eggplant & coconut spiked with chilli" from the Vegetarian Bible recipe book) then head out for drinks at a local bar. Life is good.

Giving my powerboard a plug

You know you're turning into a nanna when Martha Stewart's organising tips become really interesting! Like this one about labelled cords (so you know which plug is for what appliance). Yep, I went ahead and did it since I was sick of plugging them in and out when suddenly my Mac or phone needed juice. Electrical "currant" flavoured juice. (Oh, that one was bad. I'm very tired.)

>> Notice the powerboard on/off switch too. Makes it easy to turn everything off at once when you're done, thus saving energy and saving the world. Yesss!

Coriandrum sativum

My gardening skills are fairly limited, but I now have a lemon tree, rosemary bush, pink impatiens and coriander (I can only take credit for the last two really). Very proud.

>> Bellgirl has a list of people who joined her Veg About in the sidebar, go have a look!

Seeing double

From a bright blue beginning, then watching it grow in circles, to a finished beret... I've almost finished version 2.0, but it hasn't quite turned out as I hoped - it's too small! I'm out of the blue wool so I'll have to just leave it as is, but as "The Year of No Excuses" it's back to the drawing board to give it another go.

Greenhouse in the city

Sorry, another one for the lucky residents of Melbourne - this abstract art is from the Greenhouse, best explained on their website:

"The Greenhouse, a self-sustaining event venue will rise from the ground of Federation Square at the end of October and for three months only will dish up degustation fare - in part dug from the garden of its own roof-top space - in a structure designed entirely from detritus. Tiny ‘taste-tubes’ (science laboratory ware is just some of the discard to double as dishes) will be served by vintage-dressed waiters wheeling ‘de-registered’ shopping trolleys around furniture made from found ‘stuff’."

It's only open until 29 January 2009 so check it out before time's up!

I wish these days would never end

I've been a tourist in my own town this week. I couldn't afford to take a holiday away from home, so instead decided to spend time visiting local attractions. This photo was taken yesterday at the Melbourne Museum, while wandering through the forest gallery (more of an enclosed park than gallery, really). I think the little bird is a robin.

A breath of fresh air

I took this photo while I was away for a few days before New Year's Eve. The house was very minimal, with a water tank, solar power, gas fridge and a bonfire for warmth at night. The only downside to the country is lots of spiders!

Oh, sunshine day

I bought this skirt a few days ago and was pleased to see the sun come out today so I could actually wear it! Not sure how many of these "outfit posts" I'm going to do, but this time it's mainly because I'm using the bag I bought from Curlypops, and a necklace I've posted about before. Now, back to the sun...

Sale shopping

I was in the city yesterday and saw a sign that said Knitting Yarn Sale in the Clegs window. Naturally I walked straight in, and came out with an assortment of cream, grey and blue wool. I'm going to attempt sets of fingerless mittens and matching berets!

A night with Fleet Foxes

I saw this band tonight and they were amazing.

Something about squirrels

I have an (unhealthy?) obsession with squirrels ever since I lived in New York and used to see them out my bedroom window, scurrying around in the snow... they're the cutest little things! I bought a squirrel wallet from hokey a little while ago, then yesterday I saw this exercise book and had to take it home. Now, what to use it for?

Hello two thousand and nine!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm looking forward to 2009, and sticking to my new year's resolutions this time. I finished crocheting the blue beret but not 100% happy with it so have started creating version 2.0 (if it works out I'll post the pattern). I'm also wearing my gorgeous new cardigan and a favourite necklace today. So far, this year is grand!